On Tuesday, streaming giant Netflix confirmed the expansion of the star-studded Korean cast for the highly anticipated second season of the popular series "Squid Game."
The second season will see Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-jun, and Gong Yoo reprising their roles as the protagonist and antagonist survivors of the intense elimination game. According to reports from Variety, the new season will follow Gi-hun as he abandons his plans to go to the US and embarks on a chase with a new motive. Earlier glimpses of Season 2 showed Lee's character, Gi-hyun, with his hair dyed beetroot red.
Hwang Dong-hyuk, who made history as the first Asian to win outstanding directing for a drama series at the Primetime Emmy Awards, is returning as director, writer, and producer for the second season. Production is set to be handled by Firstman Studio.
In addition to the returning cast members, the second season will feature new faces, including Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-uk, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Choi Seung-hyun, Roh Jae-won, Jo Yuri, and Won Ji.
Netflix revealed that the second season is expected to debut "some time in 2024," alongside a slew of new Korean films, series, and reality shows.
The first season of "Squid Game," consisting of nine episodes, premiered in 2021 and garnered immense acclaim worldwide. The series, depicting a deadly competition among impoverished participants vying for a massive cash prize, became a cultural phenomenon for Netflix. It received 14 Emmy nominations, including for best drama series (a historic achievement for a non-English-language series), ultimately winning six awards.
Netflix's co-chief emphasized the expanding "Squid Game" universe, which now includes an unscripted competition series titled "Squid Game: The Challenge" and an upcoming video game, indicating the franchise's continued growth and popularity.
(With Agency Inputs)
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